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Monday, 27 July 2015

Fern Tree Gully and Gembrook line or the Puffing Billy Railway line

Puffing Billy is one of Victoria's most popular tourist attractions and is also one of the most popular tourist railways in the world, it has around 350,000 visitors each year. You can read all about Puffing Billy activities and access the time table on their website http://puffingbilly.com.au/ - the website also tells you how you can become a volunteer with Puffing Billy - they have over 1,000 volunteers who undertake a range of roles.

The Fern Tree Gully and Gembrook line opened on December 18, 1900, closed in 1954 and re-opened as a tourist railway 1955 to 1958 and then re-opened again in July 1962 and had been going strong ever since. You can read more of the history here. Puffing Billy starts at Belgrave, the next stop is Menzies Creek and the other four stops - Emerald, Lakeside, Cockatoo and Gembrook are in the Cardinia Shire, so here is look at some historic photos of the Puffing Billy or Free Tree Gully and Gembrook line as it was first called, from the State Library of Victoria photograph collection.

Since I have posted these photos I have had some correspondence from a reader, Andrew, who has provided some additional information about some of the photos. His comments are in italics. Thank you Andrew.

View of encampment near railway line, possibly Gembrook. This photo has Gembrook inscribed in pencil on the back and was possibly taken during the construction of the line, late 1890s.

Max Thomson Collection, State Library of Victoria Image H2013.70/9

This is a construction camp taken on the bend just before "Pinnock's Cutting" which is just before Pinnocks Road on the approach to Emerald.

Gembrook, c 1900

State Library of Victoria Image H35215/27

A new railway line, a new opportunity for pranksters! This photo is called

The water tank between Selby and Aura (Menzies Creek), where the 1953 landslide happened (about where the photographer was standing).

Steam train dropping off passengers, Clematis Station, c. 1910s. This station was called Paradise Valley when it opened in 1902, the name was shortened to Paradise in 1908. The area was known as Paradise until 1921 when a public meeting voted to change the name to Clematis, after the wild clematis creeper that grew prolifically in the area.

State Library of Victoria Image H2009.29/85

Gembrook Train, Victoria, c. 1912. This is a great photo - the women in their lovely hats, the interesting hand tinting of the photo, the lack of cars which is a reminder of the days when most people walked to all local activities.

State Library of Victoria Image H84.414/11

Taken at the level crossing just after leaving Upper Ferntree Gully about where the big bend is in the road at the bottom of the "mad mile".

Railway Station, Gembrook.

Date range listed is 1920s to mid 1950s, but it is believed to be more likely taken around the time of the First World War.

Rose Series postcard, State Library of Victoria Image H32492/2159.

The narrow gauge train, Cockatoo.

Date range listed is 1920s to mid 1950s.

Rose Series postcard, State Library of Victoria Image H32492/2165

Taken just after the train had crossed the Cockatoo Creek bridge on its climb into Cockatoo.

Puffing Billy, 1950s. Photograph is dated at SLV as 1950-1954, but this may be taken between 1955 and 1958 when it first ran as a tourist line. Photographer: Percy Spiden

State Library of Victoria Image H2008.121/51

This was taken at the Selby-Aura Road level crossing in Selby, and appears to be a works train just prior to the reopening to Menzies Creek in 1962.

Lakeside Station. Lakeside opened 1944, but this looks like it was taken late 1950s or early 1960s.

I wonder who these people are?

State Library of Victoria Image H2010.137/17

This looks like it was taken early to mid-'50s (just before or after closure) as the track-bed isn't overgrown.

Greetings from, Emerald Lake, c. 1976

State Library of Victoria Image H41350

This was taken sometime after 1965 on the same bend as the first photo on the approach to Emerald.